Susan Friedenberg grabs a rat from Tanner, her Border Terrier, as dogs and their owners hunt rats on April 26 in lower Manhattan in New York City. Craig Ruttle, AP

A group of dog owners gather in an alley. Dogs originally bred to hunt vermin and foxes in Europe are following their masters through mounds of trash as they exercise their centuries-old skills. Craig Ruttle, AP

A Wire Haired Dachshund named Vina carries a rat. "It's about maintaining the breed type through actual work," says Richard Reynolds, a New Jersey-based business analyst and longtime dog breeder. Craig Ruttle, AP

Dog owners gather in a lower Manhattan park before the rat hunt begins. Known as the Ryders Alley Trencher-fed Society, the rodent hunters have been scouring downtown byways for more than a decade, meeting weekly when weather allows. Craig Ruttle, AP

A rat is circled and killed by dogs. Craig Ruttle, AP

A dog named Paco sniffs a dead rat. Craig Ruttle, AP

Richard Reynolds, center, and other dog owners explain their activity to a passerby who was walking through the alley. Craig Ruttle, AP